Buyer Audacity

Recently I’ve had a couple of agents tell me that the buyers they’re working with have had the nerve to ask for a portion of their commission. I personally find this to be an insult to our professionalism and service that we have provided.

The first agent that ran into this problem called telling me that her customer thought that she was earning too much as the selling agents commission was 4%, he saw this on the purchase and sale agreement when he was about to sign the contract, and that he would only sign the contract if she gave him 1% back. She called me and asked for advice; I responded, only give it to him if he is willing to put her on his pension plan, if not, tell him to go get lost.

In my almost 17 years in the business I have never been asked as the selling agent to give up any part of my commission which as you know the buyer doesn’t even pay. Should a customer ever ask that of me they better hope we are not driving, because if we are I will pull over at the very next safe location and order them out of my car.

The first agent that called me with this problem I told her what I would do. She agreed with me, but of course that terrible built in fear of loss we suffer from is so much greater than the opportunity to stand our ground and gain. I promised her my support in whatever she decided. Well she did call me back a few days later and didn’t mention what her course of action was she didn’t need to, her not mentioning it told me all. When she did mention it about a week later I asked her how she felt. She told me that it was the lowest point ever in her real estate career, and the customer had really made her feel small and violated, she vowed never to allow it to happen again.

Let me tell you, every time you let a customer take advantage and violate you, and I don’t care whether it be buyer or seller, the next time they want to get into your pocket it’s easier for you to bend and be taken advantage of again.

My advices loose the customer, which you probably won’t, because you will have gained their respect, but if you do loose the parasite you will have kept your self respect in tact which is more important than any commission check.